Around the World by Private JetAn Exploration of the World’s Greatest Treasures & Legendary Places

Itinerary

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Overview
Join us on an extraordinary Around the World by Private Jet adventure to explore the most treasured and legendary places on Earth—sites that have captured the imagination for centuries. There's nothing quite like private jet travel aboard our custom-outfitted Boeing 757, which allows you to avoid the hassles of commercial airports and enjoy the gracious hospitality and efficiency of an experienced and devoted expedition staff and flight crew. During our luxury jet tour, you’ll visit five continents, nine countries, and over a dozen World Heritage sites. Climb the terraced steps of the ancient Inca citadel, Machu Picchu, then feel the protective gaze of the Easter Island moai statues. Bask in the radiant beauty of tropical Samoa, and experience the natural treasures of the Great Barrier Reef. You’ll welcome the sun among Angkor Wat’s splendid temples and watch it set amid Africa’s greatest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania, on the Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater. Stand enthralled before the majesty of the Taj Mahal and Rajasthan’s “Pink City” of Jaipur. Your journey continues to Egypt to visit the tombs of divine pharaohs and see the famous Pyramids and then to Morocco to explore the medieval city of Fez with its colorful souks.

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Itinerary
Day 1 — Orlando, Florida
Depart your hometown independently on a commercial flight to Orlando, Florida. Meet your fellow travelers and the expedition staff at a welcome dinner at our fine hotel. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

Days 2-4 — Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu or The North Coast, Peru
Fly to Lima (a World Heritage site), once a thriving capital in Spain’s New World empire. Arrive in the evening, and enjoy a fine dinner of traditional Peruvian cuisine. Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima

We take a local flight to Cusco (a World Heritage site), center of the Andean world for centuries. See the historic district where Spanish Baroque palaces, a beautiful cathedral, and the grand Plaza de Armas were built directly on foundations laid by the Incas. Marvel at the treasures of the Pre-Colombian Art Museum, where we will meet with master Andean weaver Nilda Callañaupa, who works with traditional weavers throughout Peru to preserve the rich textile arts of this country.

The next day, travel on the luxurious Hiram Bingham train through the spectacularly scenic Urubamba Valley to Machu Picchu (a World Heritage site). This sacred citadel was abandoned by the Incas, reclaimed by the jungle, and lost to history until it was rediscovered by the explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. Examine the artfully cut stone altars, temples, fountains, staircases, and terraced gardens that make this one of the world’s most extraordinary archaeological treasures. Hotel Palacio Nazrenas (October 2013 departure only) or Hotel Monasterio, Cusco

Alternative: Instead of visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu, head to Northern Peru to visit the temples of Chiclayo and Trujillo, where the richest burial chambers ever found in the Americas were discovered. See where the ancient Moche and Chimu peoples lived, including Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in the world. Visit Huaca de la Luna and learn more about this extraordinary site at the National University of Trujillo Archeological Museum. At the Museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipán, discover Peru’s ancient Mochica culture. Libertador, Trujillo; and Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima

Days 5 and 6 — Easter Island
Fly more than 2,300 miles westward across the Pacific Ocean to Easter Island (a World Heritage site). Scattered with mysterious, colossal stone statues called moai, the island is an open-air museum of the ruins of a lost culture. Since the island was first seen by Europeans on Easter Sunday in 1722, it has been the subject of debate. Explore many parts of this island—a UNESCO World Heritage site—with renowned archaeologists Claudio Cristino, Edmundo Edwards, and Patricia Vargas, who will reveal the stories behind the moai, ceremonial centers, and petroglyphs. Then enjoy a splendid performance by the Kari Kari Rapa Nui dance troupe. Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa

Day 7 — Cross the International Date Line
We continue our voyage across the Pacific, crossing the international date line. We lose a day en route and arrive in Samoa the following afternoon.

Day 8 — Apia, Samoa
Samoa’s beautiful chain of volcanic islands enchanted Robert Louis Stevenson, who called it home and wrote many stories featuring its people, customs, and beliefs. Visit Vailima, Stevenson’s last home, now a museum restored to show the lavish comfort he and his wife enjoyed while they lived in this Polynesian paradise. During dinner at our hotel, enjoy a fia fia—a colorful performance of traditional dance and song. Aggie Grey’s Lagoon Beach Resort & Spa, Apia

Days 9 and 10 — The Great Barrier Reef or The Daintree Rain Forest, Australia
We land in Cairns and transfer to Port Douglas, on the shores of the South Pacific Ocean. From here, venture out to the Great Barrier Reef (a World Heritage site), the largest known coral reef in the world and home to an exceptionally rich variety of marine life. Visit the northern reaches of the Reef where the fish and coral are the most diverse, to snorkel among the rainbow variety of corals with schools of triggerfish, unicornfish, bumphead parrot fish, and sea turtles. Sea Temple Resort & Spa, Port Douglas

Alternate: Instead of exploring the Great Barrier Reef, discover the natural wonders of the world’s oldest rain forest—the Daintree—approximately 90 million years older than the Amazon rain forest. Go on a Dreamtime walk in Mossman Gorge with an Aboriginal guide, a member of the Kuku Yalanji group, to learn about his people’s legends and special relationship with this unique tropical environment.

Days 11-13— Angkor Wat or Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Fly by private jet to Siem Reap, our base for a leisurely exploration of Angkor (a World Heritage site), the heart of the ancient Khmer Empire and home to one of humankind’s greatest architectural triumphs. Visit the stunningly beautiful Angkor Wat temple complex, and survey its massive towers, carved murals, colonnades, and courtyards that exemplify classic Khmer architecture. At Angkor Thom, explore the famous Bayon Temple and the Terrace of the Elephants; and wander among the ruins of Ta Prohm, still tangled in the thick roots of banyan trees. If you wish, you may visit Angkor Wat at sunrise, then join monks for a blessing ceremony at a local temple; and visit the Kok Dong Primary School to meet local children and teachers. On our last evening in Cambodia, enjoy a fine dinner at our historic luxury hotel and see a performance of classical Apsara dance by exquisitely costumed dancers who recall the celestial beings seen in the sculptures of Angkor Wat. Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

Alternate: Instead of visiting Angkor Wat, travel by commercial air to Phnom Penh and spend the day exploring Cambodia’s recent history at the Tuol Sleng (Genocide) Museum and Choeung Ek, the infamous “killing fields.” You will also have the option to see Khmer dynasty treasures at the Royal Palace, or the National Museum of Cambodia, or wander the lively and labyrinthine Russian Market. Return to Angkor in the afternoon of our third day in Cambodia and enjoy a fine dinner and Apsara performance with fellow travelers. Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh and Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

Days 14 and 15 —The Taj Mahal & Jaipur, India
Board our private jet and fly to Agra, India, site of the famous Taj Mahal (a World Heritage site). Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned this astoundingly beautiful monument in the 17th century as a tribute to the memory of his second wife Mumtaz Mahal. A masterpiece of the Mughal Empire, the monument soars majestically above the banks of the Yamuna River. Wander this enchanting work of art, which incorporates and expands on Persian, Hindu, and Islamic styles. Admire the Taj Mahal’s lovely form among the reflecting pools and gardens that surround it, and examine its intricate mosaics made of precious stones.

Reboard our private jet and fly to Jaipur, the "Pink City," named for the rose color of its prominent buildings that were painted for a citywide makeover to honor a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1876. See the unique Palace of the Winds, an oasis for women of the court who discreetly observed palace activities from behind latticed windows. Visit the sumptuous City Palace and its museum to see royal artworks and artifacts, including exquisite robes, toys from the royal playroom, and antique weaponry. Explore the whimsical Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century observatory (a World Heritage site) with enormous and sculptural astronomical tools. The next day, gather for a gala Rajasthani dinner and traditional entertainment. Rambagh Palace, Jaipur

Days 16 and 17 — The Serengeti Plain or Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Depart India in the morning and fly by private jet to Tanzania, where no other country on Earth has more land devoted to national parks and game reserves. We land in Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will transfer to private local aircraft to venture into one of two different areas of Tanzania.

Take a short flight to the Serengeti National Park (a World Heritage site), site of the most complex and least disturbed ecosystem on Earth. Begin your safari from the moment you land in the bush with a game drive en route to your lodgings. Later, venture deep into the southern edge of the park, where the annual migration is expected to pass during our visit, and be surrounded by the beauty of the land and the staggering concentration of animals. Africa’s densest “big cat” predator populations (lions, cheetahs, and leopards) thrive here. Wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, impala, and giraffe also abound, and although these animals are protected from human hunters, they may not be spared by the “big cats,” as we may witness while exploring this area. Bilila Lodge

Or descend into the Ngorongoro Crater (a World Heritage site) to observe the permanent population of about 25,000 animals in the largest unbroken caldera in the world. Along with great herds of wildebeest, gazelle, and zebra, you may also see the “big five” (rhinoceroses, lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo). Spend your nights here at a lodge perched on the crater’s rim. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Days 18 - 20 — Luxor, The Pyramids & The Sphinx, Egypt (2013), or The Lost City of Petra, Jordan (2014)
Days 18, 19 & 20 in 2013: Arrive in Luxor and head to the Luxor Museum (a World Heritage site) to view its stunning collection of statues, bas-reliefs, and mummies. In the Valley of the Kings, visit the tombs of divine pharaohs, including King Tutankhamun. Stop at the temple of Queen Hatshepsut; see the Colossi of Memnon; step into Medinet Habu and gaze up at colorful reliefs; and sail the Nile River in a traditional felucca sailboat. Visit the Great Hypostyle Hall and temples at Karnak, the largest ancient religious site in the world, described by the ancient Egyptians as “the most perfect of places.” The next day, fly by private jet to Cairo (a World Heritage site) to visit the Pyramids of Gîza (a World Heritage site) and enjoy lunch in view of the Sphinx. Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa

Note: We expect to visit Egypt as planned. However, if for any reason, we are not able to visit Egypt, we will visit Petra, Jordan, or another destination. In any case, we are prepared to ensure an extraordinary experience.

Days 18 & 19 in 2014: Fly by private jet to Aqaba and transfer to Petra, one of the great wonders of the ancient world. Half-built, half-carved into rose-red cliffs by the mysterious Nabataean people more than 2,000 years ago, Petra was later buried in the shifting sands of the surrounding desert for centuries and only recently unearthed. Walk through the Siq, a narrow chasm in the bedrock, and step into the world of a long-forgotten age, gazing up at elaborate buildings and tombs, including the iconic Treasury. In the evening, enjoy dinner with a performance of Bedouin music and dance. Mövenpick Hotel, Petra

Alternative: Instead of Petra, explore Wadi Rum, a lunar-like landscape made famous by T. E. Lawrence and the film about him, Lawrence of Arabia. See the spectacular rock formation known as the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, and ancient pictographs and inscriptions that tell of the adventures and dreams of nomads from long ago.

Days 20 (continued) & 21 — Fez, Morocco
Fly by private jet from Egypt (in 2013) or Jordan (in 2014) and land in Fez (a World Heritage site). Founded in the ninth century with countless architectural treasures and an ageold way of life still intact, Fez is the most perfectly preserved city in the country, and many consider it to be a spiritual, cultural, and intellectual capital of Morocco. Visit Fez-el-Bali, a colorful medina and the oldest part of town. Wander this UNESCO World Heritage site, a maze of narrow streets filled with fountains, restored medieval-period madrassas, and mosques, most notably the exquisite Kairouyine Mosque. Peruse the fine wares at bustling souks and hidden fondouks, where Morocco’s traditional arts and crafts flourish. Observe tanners, silk dyers, brass workers, and other skilled artisans who carry on with fascinating centuries-old traditions. Near the medina, at Fez el J’did, view the imposing gates of the Royal Palace, which are covered with rich zellige tile work. Enjoy a farewell cocktail party followed by a fine meal of traditional Moroccan delicacies. Sofitel Fès Palais Jamaï

Day 22 & 23— Morocco, Orlando, Florida, Homeward
In the morning, our private jet departs Morocco and returns to Orlando, where we can enjoy a casual meal and a night’s rest before returning home. The following morning, connect with your regularly scheduled commercial flight home. Hyatt Regency International Airport, Orlando